Collection and delivery apparatus.



J. F. MONTINE.

COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1,1915,

Patented Mar. 23 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-L!THO.. WASHINGTON. D4 C,

J. F. MONTINE.

COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB. 1.1915.

1,132,863, Patented Mar.23,1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS ca, FHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, 1) c.

J. P. MONTINE.

COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 1,1915.

' Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

4 SHEETS-*SHEET 3.

a 3 l amm THE NORRIS PETERS C0,. PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. C7

J. F. MONTINE. COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1,1915 1 1 32,863. Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHDTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON, D. C

JOSEPH F. MONTINE, F NEVINVILLE, IOWA.

COLLECTION AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Application filed February 1, 1915. Serial No. 5,472.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. MONTINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nevinville, in the county of Adams and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collection and Delivery Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for collecting and delivering mail and other receptacles along a route, and its object is to provide a novel and improved apparatus of this kind characterized by an overhead track or cableway on which is mounted a car which carries the receptacles to be delivered at the different stations along the route, and also picks up a receptacle at each station, this delivery and collection of receptacles being automatically effected.

The herein stated object is attained by means of a novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the car, partly broken away and in section; Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the car; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4."4: of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 41-; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the receiving apparatus at a station; Fig. 8 is an inverted plan View of said apparatus; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9'9 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10.10 of Fig. 9.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a car having a middle compartment 15, and a side compartment on each side, said side compartments being indicated at 16 and 17, respectively. The side compartments are longer than the middle compartment and extend forward beyond the ends of the latter. The middle compartment is closed at its ends, and the side compartments are open at their ends, the side walls at the front end being flared as indicated at 18. The side compartments are designed to carry the receptacles containing the mail or other goods, said receptacles being hung in a. row in the compartments as will be presently described, the flared ends 18 facilitating the entry of the receptacles. The middle compartment contains a mechanism, to be presently described, for releasing the receptacles, one after the other.

The roofs of the side compartments 16 and 17 are arched, and each roof has a longitudinal slit 19, over which is mounted a housing 20. At the front end of each compartment its housing 20 has outstanding side flanges 21 to which is secured a platform 23 which extends forwardly of the compartment at the top thereof and hasa longitudinal slit or passageway 24 forming a continuation of the slit 19, said slit 24 continuing to the forward end of the platform and being flared at said end as indicated at 25. The platform has upstanding marginal flanges 26 forming continuations of the roof of the compartment, and tapered at their forward ends as indicated at 27. The platforms of the respective compartments l6 and 17 are connected by a cross brace 28.

The slits 19 and 24: are designed to form a runway for the mail or other receptacles. Each of these receptacles is a cylindrical body 29 having a domed top, and a removable bottom 30 in the form of a screw cap, said cap having corrugations 31 for a purpose to be presently described. To the top of the receptacle is secured an upstanding bracket member 32 carrying rollers 33 arranged in pairs, one in front of the other. The ends of the bracket member have reinforcing lugs 34..

The car takes on a receptacle 29 at the front end, the bracket member 32 entering the slit 24 and the rollers 33 mounting the platform 23. The receptacle then passes into the side compartment 16 or 17, the bracket member passing along the slit l9 and the rollers traveling along the top of the compartment roof in the housing 20, said roof having grooves 35 on opposite sides of the slit 19 forming tracks for the rollers. These grooves start at the front end of the compartment and terminate a short distance from the rear end thereof. The housing 20 also does not extend rearward beyond the grooves.

On the inner face of the top of the housing 20 is mounted a row of pivoted dogs 36 depending therefrom, and so mounted that they are prevented from dropping to perpendicular position. In the upper edge of the bracket member 32 are two sets of ratchet teeth 37 and 38 respectively, inclined in opposite directions. One of the dogs 36 is designed to engage one of the sets of ratchet teeth to prevent the receptacle 29 frombacking out of the compartment 16 or 17. Two sets of oppositely inclined ratchet teeth are provided so that the dogs will operate with either edge of the incoming bracket member. The number of dogs corresponds to the number of receptacles the compartment is capable of holding, a locking dog being provided for each receptacle, and the dogs being spaced to correspond to the spacing of the receptacles in the compartment.

At each station where a receptacle 29 is to be collected or picked up, is mounted a rectangular box like structure 39 having open ends and a bottom slit 4-0, the receptacle being placed in said box to await collection. The front end of the box is flared as indicated at 41 to facilitate the entry of the receptacle. The box is supported, at such an elevation that it is a short distance above the housing 20, by means of a bracket arm 42 carried by a pole 43 and having upturned marginal flanges 44. The top of the box has a slight downward taper at the rear end as shown at $5, for the reason that as the car approaches and the platform 23 moves under the box, the slit 24: of the latter will take the bracket member 32 of the waiting receptacle, and as soon as the front edge of the housing 20 strikes the edge of said bracket member, the receptacle will begin to move with the car and will drop onto the platform as soon as it issues from the rear or farther end of the box 39. However, as the receptacle is struck, it might tip back and lodge in the box; but this is prevented by the slant 45, the latter preventing the receptacle from rising in the box. The connections 46 of the box with the bracket arm 42 are slotted as indicated at 4L7 to permit slight side play of the box.

Assuming that the compartment 16 is filled with receptacles 29, and that another receptacle has been picked up and is hanging from the platform 23, a means is provided whereby this receptacle is drawn into the compartment from the front after the rearmost receptacle in said compartment has been left at a station. It will be noted that the housing does not reach to the rear end of the compartment, which leaves the bracket member and the rollers 33 of the rearmost receptacle exposed, so that if said receptacle should be moved back out of the compartment, its bracket member 32 will strike one of the branches 18 of a bell crank lever fulcrumed at 49 on the roof of the compartment and iaving connected to its other branch a rod 50. This rod extends longitudinally over the roof of the compartment, and about midway between the ends has an abutment 51 against which bears one end of a coiled spring 52, the other end of said spring abutting against a lug 53 fast on the compartment roof. This spring opposes the forward movement of the rod. On the roof of the middle compartment 15 is mounted a bearing 54 which supports a transverse rock shaft 55 having rocker arms 56 and 57, respectively, at its ends. The rocker arm 56 has an eye through which the forward end of the rod 50 slidably passes, there being a head or abutment 58 on said end of the rod. The part 58 is on one side of the rocker arm 56, and on the other side of the latter the rod has an abutment 59. A light coiled spring 60 is mounted 'on the rod between the rocker arm 56 and the abutment 59. Thus a yielding connection between the rod 50 and the rocker arm 56 is provided, the motion of the former being transmitted to the latter by the spring 60. The rocker arm 57 extends down into the compartment 15 through a slot in the roof thereof in the same direction as the rocker arm 56. As the arm 57 is fast on the shaft 55, it swings when the shaft is rocked through the rod 50 and the arm 56. When the arm 57 swings down it drops into the jaws of a knife switch 61 and closes the circuit of an electric motor 62 mounted on a suitable base 63 in the compartment 15. This motor is set with a shaft 64 running longitudinally of the car, and on said shaft is a worm 65 which is in mesh with a worm wheel 66 the shaft 67 of which is suitably supported in the compartment 15. The shaft 67 carries an outstanding spring finger 68 which is in the path of the rocker arm 57, and at each revolution of the wheel 66 said spring finger strikes said rocker arm and swings the same in a direction to clear the switch jaws 61, and thus open the circuit of the motor 62. A spring 69 coiled around the rock shaft 55 holds the same so that it will not turn and allow the rocker arm 57 to drop by gravity into position to close the switch. The worm wheel 66 has a wrist pin 7 O to which is connected a pitman 71 which extends forwardly of the car and passes out of the compartment 15 through a slit 72 in the front wall thereof, and in front of said compartment, the pitman has two converging branches 73 which are pivotally connected, as indicated at 74, to a transverse pusher bar 75 of suflicient length to come with its ends adjacent to the slits 24 of the platforms 23, the cross bar being normally positioned at the forward ends of said slits. The inner marginal flanges 26 of the platform have slots 76 through which the bar 75 slidably passes. On each end of the bar 7 5 is mounted a pivoted dog 77 which is swung to normal outward position by a bow spring 78. The dogs prevent the exit of the receptacles 29 from the platform slits 2 1, but yield to allow the receptacles to enter. T he dogs are not in the way of the rollers 33 as the latter will not have descended to the platform at this point. When the pitman 71 is drawn back by the worm wheel 66, the

cross bar is also retracted, and areceptacle hanging from the platform will be pushed under the housing 20 and into the compartment beneath the same by the dog 77. The reciprocatory motion of the cross.

following mechanism is provided: To'the cross bar 75 are connected two rearwardly extending rods 80, one for each of the compartments 16 and 17. These rods may be connected to knuckle plates 81 secured to the cross bar, said plates serving as the pivotal connection of the. pitman'branches 73 with the crossbar. The rods pass into the middle compartment 15 through long slots 81 in the front wall thereof and they extend along the side walls of said com: partment. The rear ends of the rods are headed as indicated at 82, and provided with an abutment 83. Between the head and the abutment of each rod, the latter carries light and heavy coiled springs 8i and 85, respectively. Between these two springs is located the outer end of a rocker arm 86 which is fast on a sleeve 87 held against longitudinal movement by a bearing plate 88 mounted on the wall of the compartment. The rocker arm has an eye through which the rod loosely passes, and the springs 84 and provide a yielding connection between said arm and the rod. The sleeve 87 is mounted on a stationary shaft 89 on which it'is free to rock. The shaft 89 extends transversely of the middle compartment 15 and passes atits respective ends into the side compartments 16 and 17. The sleeve 87 also has a fixed arm 90 extending therefrom at an angle to the arm 86. The parts 86, 87 and 90 therefore form a bell-crank lever, the branch 86 being vertical, and the branch 90 being horizontal. Each end of the shaft carries one of these bell-crank levers to the branches 86 of which the rods 80 are connected, respectively, as

hereinbefore described. The sleeve or hub portions 87 of the bell-crank levers are so and the branch 90'of the other lever in the compartment 17. Each branch 90 is normally positioned horizontally beneath the row of receptacles 29 on the longitudinal center line thereof, and it extends back as far as the center of the rearmost receptacle." 1

The .rear or outer end of the branch 90 has an upward bend 91 at the top of which is an 'arcuate enlargement 92 providedintermediate its ends with a sleeve member93 projecting from opposite sides of said part 92.

- Through this sleeve member passes a pin 94 which supports a horizontal 'plate 95:,ithe

latter having depending ears .96 at the bottom to receive the ends of thezpin. .The

plate 95 is thus supported at the center so that it may rock slightly about ,thepin 94, in the direction the branch 90 extends, this rocking movement being limited by the part 92. The plate 95 has a forward extension 97 whichterminatesin a concave downward flange 9 8. A weak spring 99 connects this flangewith thebend 91 of the arm or branch 90 of the bell-crank lever, so that theforward end of the plate 95 has a tendency to tilt downward. Thetop'of the plate 95 is faced with a cushion 100 whichmay be a rubber disk- Said cushion engaging the bottom 30 of the receptacle, the same being corrugated to prevent slippage. 7

The object of the'last described parts is to raise the rearmost receptacle29 a sufficient,

distance so that it will clear a stop plate 101 located at the rear end ofthe compartment 7 in which said receptacle is carried, the receptacle being elevated-high enough to be taken up by the receiving device at the statlon. This action is controlled by the moveployed. After the forward portion of the car has passed under the box and removed the receptacle suspended therefrom as hereinbefore described. the rearportion of the car passes beneath the box. As the rearmost receptacle 29 is in elevated position, it will ment of the cross bar 75. through the rod 80 '1 be seen, that the rollers 33 will have entered the box, the bracket member 32 entering the bottom slit 40 of the box. A stop is provided to halt the receptacle while the car proceeds on its way... This stop is a plate therefrom and having connected to its free end a-spring 106 anchored to an arm extending from the top bracket member 10%. The free end of the plate 102 has a beveled tongue 107. The spring serves to normally hold the plate so that the tongue spans the slit 40. The plate readily yields to allow the removal from the box of the receptacle The roof of each to be delivered to the car. compartment 16' and 17 has a longitudinal abutment 108 which is in line with the side junction of the plate and its tongue 107 spans the slit 40.

The plate now acts as a stop for the receptacle whichhas been deposited 1n the box by engaging the bracket member 32 thereof, and allows the car to proceed, while holding the delivered receptacle in check. At the next station, the operation is repeated, a receptacle being delivered and a waiting one collected.

The car is suspended from an overhead cable 10') supported by the bracket arm 42, and similar arms at intervals along the route. Between the flanges 44 of the bracket arm seats a cable clamping means comprising two Lshaped members 013 and 014, respectively, positioned on the arm 12 between the flanges a l, and secured by a bolt 015. The members are so placed that one of the flanges of each is upstanding and the other flanges horizontal, the horizontal flange of one member seating on the corresponding flange of the other member and having a slot 016 through which the'bolt O15 passes. The upstanding flanges are spaced and between the same is helda cable clamp 017, a bolt 018 passing through the shank of the clamp and the upstanding flanges.

On the cable 1.09 are mounted two propelling trucks or cars 019 from which the hereinbefore described car is suspended at its front and rear ends by hangers 020, the latter being connected to the middle compartment 15. The trucks 019 are propelled by electric motors suitably geared to the wheels thereof as shown and described in applicants Patent No. 1122785, dated December 29, 1914;. v I

Thehangers 020 pass through the roof of the compartment 15 into the latter, the portions of the hangers which are in the compartment being reduced in diameter and shaped to form a spindle 021. The spindle of the front hanger is journaled in a housing or hearing 022 secured to the inner face of the front wall of the compartment 15. On the bottom of the spindle is an abutment 023 which engages the bottom of the housing and prevents the spindle from being withdrawn a ward. The housin has'a vertical 7 slit 02 i registering with a slit 72 to accommodate the pitman 71. It will be noted that the spindle and'it's bearing or housing are areas-es located slightly ofithe longitudinal center line of thecompartment 15 so as not to interfere with the pitman. The spindle of the rear hanger is supported in the same manner as the forward spindle, its bearing or housing being mounted on the rear wall of the compartment. The spindles provide a swiveling connection between the car and the propelling trucks 019, and the latter are therefore enabled to round curves.

The bottom of the car is open except as braced by channel bars 025. These bars support two laterally spaced guide rails 026 located at the center of the car and running in the direction of the length thereof. The rails diverge at their forward ends, as indicated at 02?. These rails operate in con nection with idlers 028 to guide the car, said idlers being supported from the poles 13 by means of bracket arms 029. As the car approaches the idler, the latter enters between the flared ends of the rails and in passing along the parallel portions of the same steadies the car if it should be swaying sidewise. The idlers will be so positioned that they come between the parallel portions of the rails before delivery or collection of the receptacles commences.

The box 39 is also provided with pivoted dogs 030 similar to the dogs 36, for preventing adelivered receptacle frombacking out.

The rear ends of the side walls of the compartments l6 and 17 have bulges 031 so that the removal of the receptacle 29 may be effected by hand.

The two side compartments 16 and 17 are provided in order that a collection and delivery may be made at either side of the overhead track or cableway 109. Inasmuch as the real-most receptacle 29 of each compartment 16 and 17 is elevated for delivery, the stations along the route will be located alternately on opposite sides thereof. Therefore, although both receptacles are elevated, only one will be delivered, the one which comes in line with the delivery apparatus being taken from the car. The compartments are designed to hold a number of receptacles corresponding to the number of 2 stations along the route, as otherwise the re ceptacles collected along the route will be delivered again before the end of the route is reached.

The function of the light spring 84 is to cushion the movement of the rod 80, whereasthe function'of the heavy spring is to give a more responsive or quicker movement to the parts when the receptacle is to be lifted.

I claim:

1. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a'sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected and discharged, a track on which the car is mounted for travel, prope'lling'means for the car, means for dis-' charging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, said discharging means including receptacles in. the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position, and anoperative connection between the aforesaid advancing means and the lifter.

2. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a'row, a support for the receptacles to be collected, a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car. means for dischargingtherearmost one of the receptacles in the car, means a for collecting a receptacle, said collected receptacle entering the car at its front end. and means controlled by the discharged receptacle for advancing the collected receptacle into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the re rmost one in discharge position.

3. In a delivery and collection apparatus,

the combination with the receptaclesito be a movement; of a car having a longitudinal delivered and collected, said receptacles havingsuspension means capable ofa sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for'the receptacles to be collected. a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car. means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles-in the car, means for collecting a receptacle, said collected re ceptacle entering the car at its front end, means for advancingthe collected receptacle into thecar and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in'discharge posi; tion, and a movable member in the path of the discharging receptacle and "actuated thereby, said. movable member controlling the receptacle advancing means.

" 4. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having alongitudinal compartment in which the receptacles. are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected and discharged, 9; track on which the car is mounted fortravel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmostone. of the receptacles in the car, said discharging. means including a lifter for elevating the receptacle into position to be taken. up by the aforesaid support, asupp ort at the front end of'the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected,- means for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position, and an operative connection between the aforesaid advancing means and the lifter.v Y

5. In a delivery and collection apparatus,

thelcombination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal. compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected, a track-on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, a

support at the front end of the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected, and means controlled by the discharged receptacle for advancing the collected receptacle from said'su pport into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear endthereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position.

6. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding compartment in which the receptacles-are suspended in a row, a support for thereceptacles to be collected, a track "on which the car is mounted for travel. propelling means for the car. means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles inthe car, a support at the front end ofthe carfor receiving the receptacle to be collected. means for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in, discharge position, and a'movable member in the path of the discharging receptacle and 'actuated'therebv, said movable member controlling the receptacle advancing means."

7. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitu dinalcompartment in which the receptacles are suspended'in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected and discharged, a track on which the" car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, said discharging means including a lifter for elevating the receptacle into position to be taken up by the aforesaid support, a support at the front end of the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the .collected receptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position, and an operative connection between the lifter and the push bar.

p 8. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected, a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, a support at-the front end of the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected, and a push bar controlled bV the discharged receptacle for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position.

9. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; ,of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles'to be collected, a track on which the ,car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, a support at the front end of the car for receivin the receptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the carand advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position, anda movable member in the path of the discharging receptacle and actuated thereby, said movable member controlling the push bar. v

10. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected and discha ged, a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles inthe car, said (discharging means including a lifter for elevating the receptacle into position to be taken up by the aforesaid support, a support at the front end of the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rea-rmost one in discharge position, and an operative connection between the lifter and the push bar.

11. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected, a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, a support at the front end .of the car forreceiving the receptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position, a motor carried by the car and operatively connected to the push bar, and motor-controlling means actuated by the discharged receptacle.

12. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in Which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected and discharged, a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the re ceptacles in the car, said discharging means including a lifter for elevating the receptaclc into position to be taken up by the aforesaid support, a support at the front end of the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected receptacle from. said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost .one in discharge position, a motor carried by the car and operatively connected to the push bar, and motor-controlling means ,actuated'loy the discharged receptacle.

13. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car havinga longitudina l compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to becollected and discharged,

a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, said discharging means including a lifter for elevating the receptacle into position to be taken up by the aforesaid support, a support at the front end of the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position, a motor carried by the car and operatively connected to the push bar, motor-controlling means actuated bythe discharge receptacle, and an operative connection between the lifter and the push bar. I

14. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles.

having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected, a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, a support at the front end of the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position, a motor carried by the car, a wrist wheel driven by the motor, a pitman connection between the wrist wheel and the push bar, and a motor-controlling means actuated by the discharged receptacle.

15. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected, a track on wh ch the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, a support at the front end of the car for receiving the receptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the car, and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in d scharge position. an elec tric motor carried bv the car and operativelv connected to the, push bar, a switch controlling the motor. and a movable member in the path of the discharging receptacle and operativelymconnected .to, the-- switch.

16. In a delivery and collection appara-. tus, thecombination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected, a track on which the .car is mounted for travel, propelling means. for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the. car, a support at the front endof the car for receiving the receptacles to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected re ceptacle from said support into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in discharge position, an electric motor carried by the car, a wrist wheel driven by the motor, a pitman connection between the wrist wheel and the push bar, a switch controlling the motor, a movable member in the path of the discharging receptacle and operatively connected to the switch for closing the same, and switch opening means on the shaft of the wrist wheel.

17. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles having suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row, a support for the receptacles to be collected, and discharged, a track on which the car is mounted for travel, propelling means for the car, means for discharging the rearmost one of the receptacles in the car, said discharging means including a rock shaft for elevating the. receptatcle into position to be taken up by the aforesaid support, one of the branches of said lever carrying a support engageable with the bottom of the receptacle to be lifted, an actuating rod. connected to the other branch of the lever, a support at the front end of the car for receiving thereceptacle to be collected, a push bar for advancing the collected receptacle from said support into i the car and advancing the other receptacles in the car toward the rear end thereof to place the rearmost one in d scharge position, and an operative connect on between the afo esaid actuating rod and the push bar.

18. In a delivery and collection apparatus, the combination with the receptacles to be delivered and collected, said receptacles hav- I ing suspension means capable of a sliding movement: of a car having a longitudinal compartment in which the receptacles are suspended in a row. a support for the receptacles to be collected, a track on which a the car is mounted for travel, propelling means-zfor th'e' car," means ifo'r discharging' the; rearmost one of the receptacles 1n thecar,

means fol" collecting a receptacle, said collected receptacle entering the carat its front end; means for advancing the collectedreceptacle into the car and advancing the other receptacles in the cartoward the rear end thereof to place the rearmostone in discharge 'POSltlOIl, pivoted dogs carriedby the car, and holding means carriedby vthe receptacles and-- engageabl'e bysaiddogs to prevent forward movement of therecep i tacles'in' the compartment.

19. In a dliveryand collection apparatus,- thecombination With the receptacles-to -bedelivered and collected, saidreceptacles having suspension means-capable of a sliding movement; oi a carhav-ing alongfcudmalcompartment- 1n WhlCll" the receptacles aresuspended" in a row, a'support=-.for the re push barfor advancing the collected receptacle from said support into the'car-and 'ad vancing the other receptacles in the carto- Ward the rear end thereof to place the rearmostone in discharge position, the aforesaid Y support at the front end of the carhaving ra a-gees:

a receptacle-' passageway leading into the car, and a pivoted dog carried by the push the' c'ombinationwith' the" receptacles to he deliveredand collected, said receptacles having: suspension means capable of a sliding movement; of car having a longitudinal compartment in Which the receptacles are suspended-fine row, a receiver for the re ceptacles'to be dischargedfrom the car, a pivoted retaining member forthe receptacle on-the receiver, means on the car for controlling? the retaining member, a track on whichthecar is mounted for travel, propellingmeans for the car, means for collecting are'ceptacle, saidcollected receptacle entering the car at its front end, and'means for advancing the-collected receptacle into the ca1'='an'dadvancing the other receptacles in the car towardthe-rear'endthereof to place the rearm'ost? one 7 in discharge position.

In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature inqrnesence of tWo "Witnesses.

JOSEPH F'-. MONTINE. Witnesses:

GLADYS" A-NDERsoN, S: J: LnHRn-m Copies of this'patent maybe obtained for five cents each; by-eddressing' the fiommissi-onerof Patents, Washington; D. C. 

